Attention drivers in Salmon Arm:
Scenario #1
You are driving along a street in Salmon Arm and you see a transit bus stopped by the curb with it’s left signal on. By the way, Salmon Arm Transit buses are not the big buses you would see in a large city such as Vernon, Kelowna or Vancouver.Nevertheless, they are Transit Buses that transport people to and from work, school, shopping etc. According to ICBC’s Roadsense manual, the one you would have received before learning how to drive, it states the following:
Watch for buses that have stopped. They may block your view of pedestrians about to cross the street, or they may be about to pull into traffic.
You must allow a public transit bus that is signalling and displaying a yield-to-bus sign to move out from the curb lane or a bus stop. This rule applies to all roads where the speed limit is 60 km/h or lower.”
Scenario #2
You are driving along a street and have to stop suddenly. The vehicle behind you does not know you are stopping because your brake lights do not work. Solution, frequently check that all lights on your vehicle are in working order. The large number of vehicles that I see with burnt out lights is astounding.
Oh yeah, now that I mentioned signals, you know that lever on the left side of your steering column just ahead of the steering wheel. That is your signal light activation lever. Use it. Not using it as you make your turn is often dangerous and extremely annoying to all other drivers. Give others advance notice that you are turning.
As for the bicycle riders, skateboarders and pedestrians who refuse to obey the rules of the road for whatever reason, do the math. Your skin and bones versus a vehicle equals RIP.
If you can’t do it safely, don’t do it
Brian Gona
